Horn screen



May 23, 1933- E. E. HEWITT ET AL HORN SCREEN Filed Aug. 28, 1931 INVENTORS ELLIS E..HEWITT THOMAS W. MASTERMAN A TTORNE Patented May 23, 1933 UNHTED STATES ELLIS E. HEWITT, OF EDGEWOOD, AND THOMAS W. MASTERMAN, OF EAST MCKEES- PORT, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNORS TO THE WESTINGHOUSE AIR BRAKE COEIIPANY,

OF WILMERDING, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA T TO HORN SCREEN Application filed August 28, 1931.

This invention relates to protecting devices for pneumatic horns and to the means for anchoring the same.

It has been found that not infrequently the cause of failure of proper horn operation has been the admission of foreign matter into the bell of the horn. This condition is particularly true in winter when snow and sleet are driven into the bell of the horn and either accumulate in the bell or reach a vital portion such as the valve mechanism located at the base of the sound tube. The condition may also be brought about by the admission of other foreign matter such as insects and the like that enter the mouth of the horn and become lodged in such a manner as to prevent proper operation of the device.

While the failure of proper horn operation due to the above noted causes may be overcome in a small number of cases by mounting the horn beneath the hood of the vehicle or in some other protected location, the vast majority of installations require the application of the horn in a position wholly devoid of protection.

The primary object of the present invention is the provision of means for protecting the horn against the admission of foreign matter which might cause it to become ineffective or inoperative,

A further object resides in the provision of a screen adapted to be releasably secured to the mouth of the sound tube to prevent the entrance of foreign matter thereto.

A more specific object of the present invention resides in the provision of novel means for releasably securing the protecting screen to the horn.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the following description of illustrative embodiments of the present invention.

In the drawing; Fig. 1 is a front elevational View of a protecting screen and an an choring means therefor adapted to be applied to the sound tube of a pneumatic horn;

ig. 2 is a side elevational view of the device as applied to the sound tube of a horn; Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view partially in section of a portion of the screen and an- Serial No. 559,923.

choring means; Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the portion of the anchoring band shown in Flg. 3; Fig. 5 is a sectional View taken on the line 55 of Fig. 1; Figs. 6, 7, 8 and 9 are fragmentary detail views showing the structure of a modified form of the screen mounting ring.

The form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive of the accompanying.

drawing is primarily designed for application to horns which are already in use and hence the anchoring means shown has been made adjustable to accommodate the various sizes of horn tubes now in common use.

The form of the protecting screen and anchoring means above referred to comprises a screen 10 preferably formed of a fine mesh copper screening. The screen is cut in a circular pattern of a size slightly larger.

than the diameter of the horn bell. The screen 10 may then be applied to the mouth of the bell and the marginal portion of the screen extending beyond the bell may be turned over a bead 11 to properly position the screen over the mouth of a sound tube 12 of the pneumatic horn.

An anchoring means 13 may then be applied to releasably retain the screen securely in taut position upon the sound tube 12. The split ring 13 is formed of a piece of sheet metal in the form of a channel having a rim lt and a pair of inwardly extending flanges. 15 (see Fig. 5). It will noted that the width of the channel is such. that the inner faces of the flanges 15 engage the screen 10 to hold it firmly in contact with the bead 11 formed on the mouth of the sound tube 12. One end of the rim portion 14: of

the split ring 13 is provided with an elongated tang 16 whlch pro ects beyond the at the end of the ring 13. In the event of such a condition, the extending portion of the ring 13 may be readily severed by shears as the flanges 15 have been cut away to facilitate this operation. It will also be seen that the slots 17 are disposed at an angle through the rim 14: by reason of the serrated form of the rim. This disposition of the slots greatly facilitates the admission of the tang 16 and hence reduces to a minimum the difiiculty of applying the anchoring ring to the bead of the born to secure the screen in place.

The application of the anchoring means to the screen is extremely simple. After the screen has been placed upon the mouth of the sound tube in a manner previously described, the split ring 13 is opened to permit the flanges 15 to pass over the bead 11 and screen 10. In this manner it is wrapped around the periphery of the mouth of the tube 12. The tang 16 is then inserted through one of the slots 17 and the rim 1% is pressed tightly against the screen 10 by drawing the tang 16 through the slot 17. After the ring is thus positioned, the tang 16 may be bent back sharply to lock the ring 13 and thus retain the screen over the mouth of the sound tube 12.

The modified form of the anchoring means shown in Figs. 6 to 9 inclusive of the drawing is similar in many respects to the other form. It comprises split ring 13 having a rim 1ft inwardly directed flanges 15, a tang 16 and a slot 17 through which the tang 16 may be threaded. It will be noted that this anchoring ring is provided with but one slot 17 and hence is not adjustable as to length in the sense that the other form was adjustable. The length of the tang 16, how ever, is sufficient to permit enough variation in its length to make it entirely satisfactory for most usages.

The main variation in the last mentioned form of the invention lies in the provision of ears 19 adjacent the slot 17. These ears 19 are formed by cutting V-grooves 20 in the edges of the ring 13 adjacent the slot 17' and permitting the cars 19 so formed to remain in the plane of the rim 14 when the flanges 15 are struck downwardly.

The anchoring ring 13 is applied to the sound tube of the horn and retains a screen 10 in a manner identical with that previously described in connection with the ring 13 and screen 10. After the ring 13 has been so positioned, the tang 16' is threaded through the slot 17 and pulled to draw the inner surface of the rim 14 tightly against the screen throughout the circumference of the bell of the sound tube. The tang 16 is then bent back sharply to anchor the rim in screen retaining position. The ears 19 serve as locking means to insure against the accidental displacement of the tang 16.

After the tang 16 has been bent to retain the ring 13 in position, the ears 19 may be bent upwardly and inwardly so as to lie over the tang 16 (see Fig. 8) to thus prevent the raising of the tang which might result in the loosening of the screen retaining ring 13 It will readily be seen from the foregoing that simple, effective and inexpensive means iave been provided to retain a protecting screen in position over the mouth of a pneumatic horn sound tube to preclude the admission of foreign matter which might in any manner impair the effectiveness of the horn. It will also be noted that the protecting screen may be applied with equal ease as an accessory to equipment already in use or to new horns. The protecting screen thus provides, a means for effectively eliminating difiiculties of horn operation due to the admission or accumulation of foreign matter into the sound tube of the horn.

While the invention has been described in considerable detail in the foregoing specification, it is understood that various changes may be made in its embodiments without d parting from or sacrificing any of the ad vantages hereinafter claimed.

Having now described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. The combination with a vehicle horn, of means for precluding the admission of foreign matter into the horn, said means comprising a screen for application to the" mouth of the horn and means for releasably securing said screen to the mouth of the horn, said last named means comprising a split ring having inwardly directed marginal portions adapted to engage said screen to retain the same on the mouth of the horn, and means formed on said split ring for retaining said ring in clamped position on said horn.

2. A protecting device for vehicle horns comprising a screen adapted to preclude the admission offoreign matter to the sound tube of the horn, and means for securing said screen to the horn, said means compris-- ing an annular ring having spaced ends, inwardly directed marginal portions on said ring for engaging said screen, and means carried by said ring for retaining the same on the sound tube of the horn.

3. A protecting device for vehicle horns comprising a screen adapted to be placed over the mouth of the sound tube ofthe horn, and means for releasably securing said screen to the horn, said means comprising?- an annular ring having spaced ends, inwardly directed marginal portions on said ring for engaglng sald screen to retain the same in position over the mouth of the sound tube,

and means carried on the ends of said ring for securing said ring in screen retaining position on the sound tube of the horn.

4;. A protecting device for vehicle horns comprising a screen adapted to be placed over the mouth of the sound tube of the horn, and means for releasably securing said screen to the horn, said means comprising an annular ring of channel form having spaced ends, the inner faces of said ring adapted to encompass the rim of the sound tube and contact with said screen applied thereto, and means on the ends of said ring for securing the same in screen retaining position on the horn tube.

5. A retaining ring for releasably securing a protecting screen over the mouth of a sound tube of a vehicle horn to preclude the admission of foreign matter thereto, said ring comprising an annular member having spaced ends, inwardly directed marginal flanges on said ring, a tang on one end of said ring, a raised portion on said ring adjacent the other end thereof, and a slot formed in said raised portion adapted to receive said tan 6. A retaining ring for releasably securing a protecting screen over the mouth of a sound tube of a vehicle horn to preclude the admission of foreign matter thereto, said ring comprising an annular member having spaced ends, inwardly directed marginal flanges on said ring, a tang on one end of said ring, a series of raised portions adjacent the other end of said ring, and slots formed in said raised portions adapted to selectively receive said tang, said slots lying at an angle normal to the plane of said raised portions of said ring.

7. A retaining ring for releasably securing a protecting screen over the mouth of a sound tube of a vehicle horn to preclude the admission of foreign matter thereto, said ring comprising an annular member having spaced ends, inwardly directed marginal flanges on said rin a tang on one end of said ring, a series 0 raised portions adjacent the other end of said ring, slots formed in said raised portions adapted to selectively receive said tang, said slots lying at an angle normal to the plane of said raised portions of said ring, and cut-away portions in said flanges adjacent said slots to facilitate shearing of said ring to shorten the same to a desired length.

8. A retaining ring for releasably securing a protecting screen over the mouth of a sound tube of a vehicle horn to preclude the admission of foreign matter thereto, said ring comprising an annular member having spaced ends, inwardly directed marginal flanges on said ring, a tang on one end of said ring, said tang projecting beyond the end of said flanges, a slot formed adjacent the other end of said ring adapted to receive said tang, and an ear formed on said ring adjacent said slot, said ear adapted to overlie said tang upon being bent to form a means for preventing accidental displacement of said tang.

9. A protecting device for vehicle horns comprising a screen having a marginal portion adapted to be turned over the rim of the horn and means for releasably retaining said screen on saidhorn, said means comprising an annular ring of channel form having spaced ends, the inner faces of said ring adapted to encompass the rim of said horn and contact with said screen and means on said ring for releasably securing said ring in screen engaging position.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands, this 24th day of August, 1931.

ELLIS E. HEWITT. THOMAS W. MASTERMAN. 

